Blog Archives

Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) Testing Schedule

3/19/2019

The office has asked us to provide the testing schedule for the IAR (which will take place when students return from Spring Break). I've also included the MAP testing dates below (these dates and times are tentative and are subject to change!)...

April 2nd: IAR 1:10-2:40 - ELA 1
April 4th: IAR 9:10-10:40 - ELA 2
April 5th: IAR 9:10-10:40 - Math 1
April 8th: IAR 1:10-2:40 - Math 2
April 9th: IAR 1:10-2:40 - Math 3
April 10th: MAP Test (Math) 1:10-2:40
April 17th: MAP Test (Reading) 1:10-2:40

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Notes from the Office...

3/17/2019

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Please take the following survey related to "Leader in Me" if you have some time:
archive.theleaderinmeonline.org/assesment/index.php/827926/lang-en/token/518f302f052dae329a44a0a6d7a6c7a2/newtest/Y

Click on the video below to watch the Dance for Heart Video:

Friendly Reminder Regarding Westgate's Homework Policy -

Students sick/absent for 1-2 days can collect homework from classroom teacher upon arrival from absence.
Students sick/absent for 3 or more days can arrange with classroom teacher to pick up homework from main office.
Parents requesting work due to vacations: We strongly encourage parents to plan vacation periods at a time other than when school is in session. It is extremely difficult for a student to make up missed work over an extended period because of the sequential teaching and learning processes. Parents who find they must take their child from school for an extended absence are requested to discuss the matter with principal in advance of the date of the absence. Teachers are not required to provide schoolwork ahead of time for vacations. Schoolwork should be handed in (3) days after returning from the vacation or per the final agreement established between teacher and student’s parent.

Spring Conferences - Thursday March 21st, 2019 and Friday, March 22nd, 2019

At Westgate School, we value a strong partnership between home and school. Twice a year, once in October and once in March, time is provided for Parent-Teacher Conferences. Parent-Teacher Conferences are a valuable time to share information and discuss the progress of our students. Parents will be able to sign up for Parent-Teacher Conferences online, using http://www.signupgenius.com. Parents will be provided links to begin signing up for conferences on Monday March 11th, at 10 AM. The window for signing up for fall conferences will be Monday, 3/11/19 at 10 AM through Monday, 3/18/19 at 12 PM.
The conferences are scheduled in 20-minute increments. In order to be fair and equitable to all our Westgate families, each family may sign up for only one evening conference each year. Families can choose to either sign up for an evening conference in the fall or the spring, not both.
Here is the link to our classroom sign-up: www.signupgenius.com/go/60b094aacae23aaf49-spring53

Order your child's yearbook today! Available for $15 each through pre-order only through March 22nd.
https://westgatepta.com/yearbook/

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March Parent Newsletter

3/3/2019

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If you're reading this in an email, please click on the title "March Parent Newsletter" above to go to the actual web page to see the embedded tweets, slideshows of pictures, and more! Thanks!

Thank you to everyone who has sent my mom well wishes on her surgery this Tuesday. I'm sorry to have to miss the next two weeks of school! Please know that your child is in the great hands of Ms. Samantha Frankenthal, the same substitute that went with our kiddos on the Art Institute field trip last month. She has agreed to take all nine days that I will be out! I am leaving her detailed lesson plans and my cell phone number to ensure that she has a fantastic experience and that the kids continue to learn at a rapid pace!

I have changed the schedule a bit to make it easier on everyone. We will be pausing science and social studies until I return and then doubling up on those two subjects for a short period of time to catch up. This will allow Ms. Frankenthal to focus on just a few subjects, rather than all of them! Students will likely be completing Math Units 9 and 10 while I'm gone (they're both extremely short). I'd expect the first test in a week or so!

Please have a quick talk with your child about the importance of making mature decisions while I'm gone. (I will also talk with them tomorrow in school.) Just last week while I had the flu, several students made poor choices with technology. Some deleted other students' work. Some created a Google Doc to chat with their friends instead of doing schoolwork, etc. I need to know that each child will be making mature decisions while I'm out. Thanks! :)

Report cards are nearly done and will be completed on time. Report cards are emailed home on 3/15 by the district. I will also be giving students an envelope with supporting documents on 3/18 or 3/19 when I return (just like last trimester). In it, you will find data from IXL, Spelling City, writing pieces, a 21st Century Skills report card, etc. I hope you find this information useful.

Finally, thanks for all your support this year! Switching to a new grade has challenges I never anticipated (having taught the same grade for 19 years previously). You have all helped make the transition to 4th grade smooth and positive! Thank you so much!

Paul

Math - Hands-On Decimals

PDF: decimal_ordering_cards.pdf

Comparing & ordering decimals WAS tough, but not anymore! Just spent 10 minutes sorting decimal cards from least to greatest & greatest to least! Since the kiddos made each decimal the same number of digits, it was a cinch! :)#LearnLAP #d25ItsPersonal #WGLeads #4thchat #5thchat pic.twitter.com/GFJsYca3LV
— Mr. Solarz' Class (@MrSolarz) March 3, 2019

Social Studies - SDG's

Connecting our Illinois Geography standards with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Collecting statistics and data to demonstrate how the state of Illinois is not meeting all of the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals (#SDGs)! Our next step is creating an #Infographic with our findings and sharing it out!#LearnLAP #d25ItsPersonal #WGLeads #4thchat #5thchat pic.twitter.com/n69BjmvsPt
— Mr. Solarz' Class (@MrSolarz) March 3, 2019

Science - Engineering & Design

PDF of the contest: invent-it-2019-educator-flyer-1.pdf

Creating our #Prototypes for the 2019 #InventItChallenge by @CricketMediaInc! Our kiddos are coming up with some AMAZING inventions to help our elderly community! Such creativity!!!#LearnLAP #d25ItsPersonal #WGLeads #4thchat #5thchat pic.twitter.com/jEzJZ3KMXf
— Mr. Solarz' Class (@MrSolarz) March 3, 2019

Math - Decimal Computation

Website: www.mathfactsfixer.com/

Adding and Subtracting Decimals with partners! Students are getting stronger with their computation skills thanks to #FactFixer and daily fact practice in class! Now, to transfer that to #RealWorldProblems! :)#LearnLAP #d25ItsPersonal #WGLeads #4thchat #5thchat pic.twitter.com/wy8lfpJtSO
— Mr. Solarz' Class (@MrSolarz) March 3, 2019

Science - Heat Energy

Link to assignment:
paulsolarz.weebly.com/energy/energy-lesson-4

Experimenting with #HeatEnergy by exploring how long it takes relatively hot water and relatively cold water to become room temperature water! Learned how variables like ice in the water can adversely affect our data!#LearnLAP #d25ItsPersonal #WGLeads #4thchat #5thchat pic.twitter.com/dNIWO72xnL
— Mr. Solarz' Class (@MrSolarz) March 3, 2019

Valentine's Day Party!

A HUGE thank you goes out the parent volunteers who organized the games, purchased the materials, and ran the groups on Valentine's Day!

Wow! Our parents treated us to THE BEST VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY EVER!!! We are so lucky to have had so many amazingly fun activities to do, crafts to make, and experiments to perform! The kids never stopped smiling! □□□#LearnLAP #d25ItsPersonal #WGLeads #4thchat #5thchat pic.twitter.com/rSTsyDkEF2
— Mr. Solarz' Class (@MrSolarz) March 3, 2019

KinderPals - Honesty

Website: www.peekapak.com/

Teaching our #KinderPals the importance of #Honesty thanks to @Peekapak! We spent our February meeting learning about the importance of honesty, what can happen when we stretch the truth, and some exceptions to the rule!#LearnLAP #d25ItsPersonal #WGLeads #4thchat #5thchat pic.twitter.com/yGfy4LezuG
— Mr. Solarz' Class (@MrSolarz) March 3, 2019

Math - Protractors

We learned how to use our protractor in class. If your child is still struggling to use it correctly, feel free to have them watch this video:

Learning how to use #Protractors in Math Class! Students helping students; making lots of mistakes, but learning from them; developing our skills in a safe classroom environment! #LearnLAP #d25ItsPersonal #WGLeads #4thchat #5thchat pic.twitter.com/efDvJwSXFJ
— Mr. Solarz' Class (@MrSolarz) March 3, 2019

Current Events With TFK

Website: www.timeforkids.com/g34/

Learning about #CurrentEvents & other topics that interest us through @timeforkids! Kiddos read aloud with their partner, discussing each article & looking things up, rather than doing worksheets or even finishing the issue. #LearnLAP #d25ItsPersonal #WGLeads #4thchat #5thchat pic.twitter.com/prX8MhsKyc
— Mr. Solarz' Class (@MrSolarz) March 3, 2019

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Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) Testing Schedule

Notes from the Office...

March Parent Newsletter

Math - Hands-On Decimals

Social Studies - SDG's

Science - Engineering & Design

Math - Decimal Computation

Science - Heat Energy

Valentine's Day Party!

KinderPals - Honesty

Math - Protractors

Current Events With TFK

Parent Newsletter

Archives

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